Donald Trump has doubled down on his statement that American wages are too high. Here are 8 points about free market capitalism that I think you need to understand.
This view of Donald Trump’s actually represents the corporate view and Republican philosophy of economy. Some points, as briefly as I can phrase them.
The job of a teacher is to inform, explain, and clarify. That’s what I’m doing here. I have to believe that there are vast numbers of Americans who voted for Trump, who have for years voted for Republicans, who, if they understand how all of this really works, would cross the street,
instead of continuing to elect the very people who hold them down and
think no more of them than the cost of the office coffee maker.
1. Trickle down economics are INTENDED to benefit the wealthy, the
largest investors because they “create jobs.” Any benefit to the
average worker is purely incidental.
2. The amount that trickles down is left to the discretion of these
wealthy, large investors.
3. One of the most fundamental business philosophies since, well,
since there has been business, is that LABOR is a COST, to be
controlled and held to the lowest level possible in order to maximize
profit. In fact, it’s generally regarded as one of the MOST controllable
costs.
4. As competition from other countries rose during the 1990’s and the
21st century, these large, wealthy investors and the companies they
control saw that their only way to compete with countries whose labor
forces made much less than American workers, WITHOUT
LOWERING THEIR PROFIT, was to pay American workers less as
well. If they could pay a dollar an hour, they’d happily do so.
5. Republican philosophy has ALWAYS been based on points 1-4. It has
also ALWAYS been based on pay your own way without assistance,
and the government should have no part in helping you. Theirs is a
fully Darwinian philosophy. Only those who can keep up, on their own
without assistance, DESERVE to continue. Those who can’t,
regardless of whatever may prevent them from doing so—loss of their
income due to technology or shifting markets, health emergencies,
business downsizing, etc., are not the problem or responsibility of the
society or the government. If they starve, they starve. If they die of
illness because they can’t afford treatment, they die.
6. It all boils down to one thing and one thing only: Provide profits. It’s
ALL about feeding the profits. It has ALWAYS BEEN about feeding
the profits of the wealthiest. If you don’t believe me, you have not
been paying attention.
7. Donald Trump’s belief that wages are too high is an expression of
common corporate—and REPUBLICAN— belief that American
workers at the employee level have no right to any wage other than
what businesses wish to pay them.
8. It is the full expectation of the corporate, and Republican mind, that
the employee class should be satisfied and happy with whatever they
are given, and no matter how small the wage or how high the costs
living, provide for their family and education and retirement.
It’s worth noting that this philosophy has always been the #1 feature of free market capitalism. It is also the #1 NEGATIVE feature . Why did the Republicans, starting with Reagan, start embark on a campaign to destroy unions? Because unions benefit the common worker, and in doing so, reduce profits. Minimum wages, livable wages, health care benefits (which are necessary because of the “pay as little as possible” rule of business), pensions…all of these things lower profit. In a free
market capitalist society, there is NO bigger sin.
Final note: This isn’t Marxist stuff. This isn’t dreaded Socialistic ravings. It is, simply and factually, a description of how free markets and capitalism work. This is also why it is the responsibility and necessity of a democratic, capitalistic, free market government like ours, to step in and ensure that the working class, which makes up the VAST majority of American citizens, and not victimized by the richest (the 2%) as they expand their own wealth. This isn’t Socialism. This is Socially
Responsible Government.
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